Things to do with kids in Madrid

25 family-friendly places in Madrid: zoos, aquariums, playgrounds and more.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

EatSouthern Suburbs
Bacchus
Right in the middle of Lonja, an area filled with places to dine and drink. It is still close enough to city centre but offers a more relaxed ambience, making it one especially suitable for families, though all types of customers can be encountered. Bacchus offers a mixture of innovative and traditional-style tapas. Very good though expensive wine list. It can get very busy on weekends. Nice outside seating area makes up for the fact that inside it is rather small and, in traditional tapas-bar style, somewhat littered.
Daily 09:00-02:00
DrinkMalasaña-Chueca
Café Comercial
Opened in the 1880s, this is the oldest cafe in Madrid, and has been run by the same family since the early 1900s. There's a modern internet café upstairs, but the downstairs remains traditional.
EatLa Latina-Austrias
Casa Lucio
Pricey but worth it. The Spanish Royal family sometimes entertain guests here and you may run into a few sports figures and movie stars. You should definitely book ahead on the weekends, and reservations are recommended even for the weekdays. Known for their cocido, their roasts and their huevos rotos.
Daily 13:00-16:00 20:30-24:00
SeeMoncloa
Casa de Campo
The park at the rear of the Palacio Real which used to belong to the Royal family. Much of the park has been taken to smaller activity parks such as the Zoo but in general it's peaceful. From Moncloa you can take a teleferico (€5.90 return) across into the park.
SeeSouthern Suburbs
Faunia
Zoological park. Different sections of the park include animals from different locations (Africa, Antarctica etc..)
Hours vary by season€26.45 (adults), €19.95 (seniors/children), €18.45 (disabled), free (children under 3); ticket prices are significantly cheaper if purchase online
EatLa Latina-Austrias
La Bola Taberna
A family-run restaurant operating since 1870 and serving traditional Madrileño cuisine. Reservations can be made online.
Mon-Sat 13:30-15:30 20:30-23:00, Sun 13:30-15:30
SeeSalamanca
Museo Lázaro Galdiano
Museum of Lázaro Galdiano
This museum houses the stunning collection of Spanish entrepreneur José Lázaro Galdiano (1862-1947) and is considered to be one of the best private collections in Spain. Not only will you find works by Goya, Velázquez, El Greco and others - the museum is also filled with jewelry, furniture, sculpture and ceramics. It is located in Lázaro Galdiano's rather lavish former residence. This is an excellent museum that is usually not crowded and well worth the price of admission.
Tue-Sat 10:00-16:30, Sun 10:00-15:00; closed Jan 1, Easter Thu and Fri, May 2 and 3, Nov 1, Dec 6 and 25€6 (adults), €3 (seniors/students/disabled), free (children under 12); free admission Tu-Sa 15:30-16:30 and Su 14:00-15:00
SeeRetiro-Paseo del Arte
Museo Nacional de Antropología
National Museum of Anthropology
Small but interesting museum with artefacts and models from the indigenous people of Asia (mainly the Philippines, former colony of Spain), Africa and America. The exhibits are described in Spanish; however, on each floor, there is a leaflet in English explaining all sections.
Tue-Sat 09:30-20:00, Sun and holidays 10:00-15:00€3 (adults), €1.50 (concessions), free (seniors/students/children under 18); free Sa after 14:00 and Su
SeeChamberí-Castellana
Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales
MCNM / National Museum of Natural Sciences
Contains a large collection of fossils and minerals, plus educational exhibits (some are described in English but many are in Spanish only). Has two parts open to visitors with separate entrances. The ticket is purchased at the main entrance and to visit the other part you need to exit from the main entrance, turn left and follow the building until you reach the second entrance. Your ticket will be checked again there so don't lose it.
Tue-Fri 10:00-17:00, Sat Sun and holidays 10:00-20:00; Sat Sun in Aug 10:00-15:00€7 (adults), €3.50 (students/children 4-16), free (seniors/children under 4)
SeeNorthern Suburbs
Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales
MCNM / National Museum of Natural Sciences
Contains a large collection of fossils and minerals, plus educational exhibits (some are described in English but many are in Spanish only). Has two parts open to visitors with separate entrances. The ticket is purchased at the main entrance and to visit the other part you need to exit from the main entrance, turn left and follow the building until you reach the second entrance. Your ticket will be checked again there so don't lose it.
Tue-Fri 10:00-17:00, Sat Sun and holidays 10:00-20:00; Sat Sun in Aug 10:00-15:00€7 (adults), €3.50 (students/children 4-16), free (seniors/children under 4)
SeeRetiro-Paseo del Arte
Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
Contains a large art collection including masterpieces by Monet, Goya, Degas, Renoir, Van Gogh, Picasso, Mondrian, Bacon and Lichtenstein.
Permanent collection and Francisco Bores: Tue-Sun 10:00-19:00, Mon 12:00-16:00; Bulgari and Rome collections: Tue-Fri 10:00-19:00, Sat 10:00-21:00, Sun 10:00-19:00€13 (adults), €9 (concessions), free (children under 12) and all at certain times (see website)
SeeMoncloa
Museo de América
An excellent museum that many tourists miss. Houses thousands of artifacts from the Americas. The exhibit displays objects from many native cultures from before European conquest to colonial times and beyond. Don't miss the Tesoro (Treasure) de los Químbayas, a collection of gold objects that was given as a gift by the Colombian government. Also of interest is the Tudela Codex, an Aztec law book from the 1500s. Beware: most explanations to the objects on display are in Spanish only.
Tue-Sat 09:30-15:00, Thu 09:30-19:00, Sun and holidays 10:30-18:00; closed Jan 1, May 1, Dec 24, 25, 31€3 (adults), €1.50 (concessions), free (seniors/children under 18); free on Su
SeeRetiro-Paseo del Arte
Museo del Prado
Prado Museum
One of the finest art collections in the world and the best collection of classical art in Madrid. It includes many different collections: the Spanish (El Greco, Velázquez, and Goya), the Flemish and Dutch (Rubens, van Dyck, and Brueghel), Italian (Botticelli, Tintoretto, Titian, Caravaggio, and Veronese) and German (Albrecht Dürer, Lucas Cranach, and Baldung Grien). Some highlights not to miss at the Prado include the Bosch masterpiece The Garden of Earthly Delights, Velázquez's masterpiece Las Meninas, the Black Paintings, The Third of May 1808, and a pair of paintings known as The Clothed Maja and The Naked Maja by Goya, Adoration of the Shepards by El Greco, and David with the Head of Goliath by Caravaggio. Be sure to walk along Paseo del Prado, a pedestrian walkway full of fountains and trees near the museum. Visitors can bypass the often extremely long queues by purchasing tickets beforehand by phone or online, for an additional €.90 fee per ticket. Tickets purchased online can be printed or downloaded onto a smart phone; all pre-purchased tickets can be picked up (with a reference number) or presented at the main (Jerónimos) entrance in the northeast corner of the building. If you are planning to spend a full day at the museum, it is possible to leave (e.g. for lunch) and reenter by getting your ticket stamped at the 'Educación' counter just inside the main entrance. An affordable café and cafeteria-style restaurant are on the ground floor, along with a gift shop. No food, drinks, backpacks or umbrellas are permitted (a bag check is just inside the main entrance). Photography not permitted.
Mon-Sat 10:00-20:00, Sun 10:00-19:00; closed/shortened hrs on some holidays; extended hrs for special exhibits; last admission 30 min before closing€15 (adults), €7.50 (seniors 65+), free (children/students under 25); free admission within 2 hours of closure; additional obligatory fee for special exhibits
SeeMoncloa
Museo del Traje
The Costume Museum
Offers a wide selection of historical and more temporary costumes (from the early 1200s to now) which shows the aspects of different cultures and Spain. The museum also organizes many activities and events. The building itself won some architectural awards in the 1970s. The restaurant underneath the museum is fairly good. The museum is surrounded by sprawling gardens, replete with well maintained lawns and fountains, are a pleasant place to relax.
Tue-Sat 09:30-19:00, Sun and holidays 10:00-15:00; closed 1 and 6 Jan, 1 and 15 May, 24-25 and 31 Dec€3 (adults), €1.50 (concessions), free (students/children/seniors); free on Sa after 14:30, all day Su, and national holidays
SeeLa Latina-Austrias
Palacio Real
Royal Palace
The Palacio Real is an enormous palace, one of the biggest in Europe, with scorching plains of concrete around it. Though it is the official residence of the King of Spain, the royal family does not actually reside here and it is generally used only for state ceremonies. The Royal Palace is considered to be one of the most emblematic and beautiful buildings in Madrid, not only for its location on a bluff overlooking the river valley but also for its architecture and the artistic treasures to be found in its rooms. A simple one-way tour of the palace (both self-guided and guided are available) takes you up the grand stairway and through the lavishly decorated state rooms with their elegant tapestries, frescoes, porcelain, carvings and added decor like china, silverware, medals, etc. From the courtyard you can access the Farmacia (Pharmacy), which contains hundreds of bottles of early medicines and a reconstructed laboratory, and the Real Armorial (Royal Armory), a two-story collection of medieval weapons and armor. Explanations in the armory are in Spanish only, so do not expect to understand much unless your know the Spanish names for all that medieval weaponry. The lines to get in are very long, especially on weekday evenings when the place is free – try to go early. Photography inside the palace is not allowed, but is permitted in the foyer and courtyard. Free storage lockers are available behind the ticket office. The Palace was built on the site of an Alcazar (a Muslim fortress) which had been used as a palace but burned down. It was one of the first major buildings by the new Bourbon dynasty and shows a departure from the earlier styles and tastes of the Habsburgs in evidence in other royal buildings in the area.
Oct-Mar daily 10:00-18:00, Apr-Sep daily 10:00-20:00; last admission 1 hr before closing; closed occasionally for official ceremoniesEntry €11; guided tour additional €4; students and children €6; free (disabled/teachers/children under 5); free M-Th 16:00-18:00 (Oct-Mar) and 18:00-20:00 (Apr-Sep) for EU citizens, legal residents, and citizens of Latin American countries (valid ID/passport required)
SeeNorthern Suburbs
Palacio Real de El Pardo
Royal Palace of El Pardo
It was built as a hunting lodge for the Spanish royal family, and was commandeered by Francisco Franco to serve as his residence. Today it serves as the official guest house for foreign dignitaries visiting Madrid, and is also open to the public when not in use. Check out the vast collection of tapestries hanging from the palace walls, some of which were even designed by the painter Francisco Goya.
Tue-Sun 10:00-19:00 (last admission at 18:00)€9 (adults), €4 (reduced); free W and Su 15:00-19:00
SeeRetiro-Paseo del Arte
Parque del Retiro
El Retiro Park
The main park of Madrid, the perfect place to take a rest during a sunny day, or take part in the drum circles around the statue of Alphonso XII on summer evenings. There is a large boating lake where one can hire a rowing boat - great fun for the children! There is a monument to the victims of the Madrid 3/11 terrorist bombings, the Forest of the Absent, and the Crystal Palace, a large structure entirely made of glass. Sunday afternoons in summer are a treat in the park, where young hippies play bongos and dance.
Free (park)
SeeArganzuela
Planetario de Madrid
Planetarium of Madrid
Features several exhibits related to space exploration, two screens playing documentaries, an interactive area and, of course, the planetarium. Projections last 45 minutes each. Different ones play on different days, so check their website. All the exhibits are explained in Spanish only and the projections in the planetarium are also in Spanish.
Tue-Fri 17:00-19:45, Sat Sun holiday 11:00-13:45 and 17:00-20:45Entry is free but the sessions in the planetarium each have a cost of €3.60 for a regular ticket and €1.65 for a reduced ticket (children and seniors)
SeeSol-Letras-Lavapiés
Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando
RABASF / Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando
Highly impressive art collection with paintings, sculptures, drawings and prints. Several Goya masterpieces.
Tue-Sun 10:00-15:00; open holidays; closed for the month of Aug€10 (adults), €5 (seniors/students over 25), free (students/children under 18); free on W and national holidays
SeeRetiro-Paseo del Arte
Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid
Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid
Established in 1755, the garden has been in its current location since 1774. Its extensive collection is dispersed over seven sections, five greenhouses, and a herbarium. A map of the garden is available here.
Nov-Feb: daily 10:00-18:00; Mar/Oct: daily 10:00-19:00; Apr/Sep: daily 10:00-20:00; May-Aug: daily 10:00-21:00€4 (adults), €1 (65+; students 18-25), free (children under 18)
EatNorthern Suburbs
Restaurante Casa Benigna
Owned by a Spanish-Norwegian family, this unassuming spot in Chamartín is known for serving traditional Spanish cuisine with a Nordic twist. Their paellas, served on custom-made copper pans, are reportedly among the best (if not the best) in Madrid, with prominent politicians, celebrities and businesspeople among their customers. Reservations recommended well in advance. Walk-ins are routinely turned away at the door and sent to Restaurante Samm on the other end of Chamartín.
Daily 13:30-17:00, Mon-Sat 20:30-00:00€20-30
EatMoncloa
Yunie Kebab
One of the oldest kebab restaurants in Madrid, it is reportedly a favorite of the Spanish royal family. Also offers other Lebanese specialties like kibbeh and mutabbal (a spicier baba ghanoush).
Tue-Sun 13:00-16:00 and 20:00-23:00
SeeMoncloa
Zoo Aquarium de Madrid
Madrid Zoo Aquarium
See the pandas, pet the lemurs, watch the dolphin show, and enjoy the bird show.
Open daily, hrs vary by season€22.95 (adults), €18.60 (seniors/disabled/children 3-7), free (children under 3); ticket prices are significantly cheaper if purchase online
Do Not mapped
Banda Sinfónica Municipal de Madrid
Performs in El Retiro Park in the summer. Tickets can be purchased at the Teatro Monumental (listed above), at the tourist information centre in Plaza Mayor, and online.
€5 (adults), €3 (seniors/youth/children)
DoRetiro-Paseo del Arte Not mapped
Banda Sinfónica Municipal de Madrid
An orchestra that performs in El Retiro Park in the summer. Tickets can be purchased at the Teatro Monumental (listed above) and at the tourist information centre in Plaza Mayor, as well as online.
€5 (adults), €3 (seniors/youth/children)

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Madrid (CC BY-SA 4.0).